Enrollment

Two months later.

Early September, Heding City Junior Soul Master Academy.

Zhang Yang wore a short-sleeved silk shirt and shorts. He held a thin summer quilt made of silk and looked around.

He was comparing the room with the one on the map in his memory, trying to find the real-world counterparts of the containers he could interact with.

Not far away, Zhang Lingyue and Zhu Ranqing were chatting with a man in his sixties, while someone nearby bustled about, registering Zhang Yang as a student.

"Vice Hall Master Zhang, rest assured. Our Heding City Junior Soul Master Academy will provide the strongest faculty to teach your son," the old man assured Zhang Lingyue and Zhu Ranqing with a smile.

"Then we'll be counting on you, Dean Beckett," Zhu Ranqing replied with a smile.

"Dean Beckett, you've devoted decades to Soul Master education. You must know the saying: jade must be carved to become a vessel."

"Zhang Yang is only six, at the age when children are lively and restless. His talent is average, so he may give up easily if he sees no results from his cultivation."

"So I ask that the teachers at your academy take good care of him and keep a close eye on his cultivation. My husband and I would like to thank you in advance."

"Vice Hall Master Zhang, you're too kind."

Once the registration was complete, Dean Beckett of Heding City Junior Soul Master Academy led the Zhang family out of the Administration Building to take care of the remaining formalities.

When the door closed, the school staff in the room exchanged glances, then couldn't help chuckling.

None of them had expected that the son of Zhang Lingyue, the vice hall master of the mighty Heding City Martial Soul Branch Hall, would have an Innate Soul Power of only Rank 1.

The vice hall master of the Martial Soul Branch Hall, no less! He had to be a Soul King at the very least.

And his son only had Rank 1 Soul Power?

Wasn't that absurd?

Truly, a tiger father had begotten a dog son.

Of course, they could laugh, but they absolutely couldn't say such things out loud.

If word got out, Zhang Lingyue wouldn't even have to act personally. The people eager to curry favor with him would make their lives a living hell.

At noon, with Dean Beckett accompanying them, Zhang Lingyue and Zhu Ranqing ate a student meal with Zhang Yang, then said their reluctant goodbyes to him.

From that moment on, Zhang Yang officially began living at the academy.

Back in the dormitory, Zhang Yang sat on his bed and looked around the room, unable to keep a sigh of emotion from escaping him.

Even after living in this world for six years, some of the differences between the two worlds still left Zhang Yang stunned.

For example, this dormitory, with fifty people to a room.

Zhang Yang was baffled. Given the status of Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent, how could student dormitories have fifty people to a room?

Even if they weren't single rooms, shouldn't they at least be doubles?

At lunch, Zhang Yang had voiced that very question.

In answer to Zhang Yang's confusion, Zhang Lingyue told him a story.

"A thousand years ago, the first Pope of Spirit Hall rose from humble beginnings. Through his personal charisma, he recruited a great many Soul Masters to fight under his command for his ideals."

"Among them, the first thousand recruits were the bravest fighters and the most loyal to the first Pope. They were organized into the original Lion War Regiment."

"Each sub-regiment had fifty people, with one dormitory for each. Soul Masters in the same sub-regiment ate and lived together, inseparable brothers-in-arms."

"Later, Spirit Hall secured its transcendent position on the Douluo Continent. To raise its own Soul Master force from childhood, the Pope ordered the founding of Spirit Hall Academy."

"Of the seven members of Spirit Hall Academy's first education committee, four came from the Lion Soul Master War Regiment. So they carried on the regiment's tradition and established dormitories for fifty students."

"After that, every junior Soul Master academy on the continent adopted fifty-person dormitories."

After hearing Zhang Lingyue's story, Zhang Yang understood.

It was like modern keyboards keeping the key layout of typewriters: once a path dependency had formed, it stuck.

After sitting on his bed for a while and letting his food settle, Zhang Yang sat cross-legged at the head of the bed.

Today was his first day at Heding City Academy. He had to run a couple of rounds to celebrate.

Zhang Yang sat cross-legged in the dormitory, looking as though he were cultivating, while the room remained as lively as ever.

The new students had returned to the dormitory after eating. Though most of their parents had already left, a few had followed them back.

Several parents were giving their precious sons one last round of earnest advice.

Listen to the academy's teachers, cultivate hard, get along with your classmates, and so on...

One parent even pointed toward Zhang Yang and whispered to his son, "See that classmate over there? Make friends with him, understand?"

He had been there when Zhang Yang's family first arrived at the dormitory.

The dorm supervisor had led them in, and the dean had accompanied them.

How high-ranking must Zhang Yang's father be? What an incredible Soul Master powerhouse!

With such a powerful backer right beside his son, what a stroke of fortune it would be if the boy could get close to him!

On Hotel Street, east of the academy, green extraction smoke rose from the roof of a lavishly decorated hotel. Zhang Yang lay still on the rooftop.

Ten seconds later, the extraction animation appeared. Zhang Yang boarded a helicopter and extracted successfully.

"Extraction successful."

"Extraction point: Heding City Academy - Normal"

"Duration: 00:22:18"

"Loot this round: 785641"

"Total kills: 7"

At last, he had extracted successfully. A satisfied smile appeared on Zhang Yang's face.

A new screen popped up.

4>>>5-->5>>>6

92EXP↑

12957/13000-->49/14000

A satisfied smile appeared on Zhang Yang's face. He had leveled up again.

After spending six hours a day looting, averaging 700,000 to 800,000 in loot per round, Zhang Yang had finally reached Level 5 after two months of hard work.

Zhang Yang could have spent more time looting each day, of course, but he didn't want to.

He was only six. Getting enough sleep was extremely important.

You wouldn't want your grown-up height to end up shorter than Zhao Wuji's just because you didn't get enough sleep, would you, reincarnator?

Besides, following his parents' arrangements and exercising every day was important, too.

That way, his parents would be happy.

Zhang Yang felt that making his parents happy was worth more than leveling up half a month earlier.

As for the mission to earn 500 million Haf Coins, he had naturally completed it long ago.

In fact, once Zhang Yang started working on the mission, he realized that 500 million wasn't an insurmountable figure.

After all, the vast majority of Soul Masters specialized in close combat, while his M14 had long range, high damage, and a rapid rate of fire.

By comparison, it was like bringing a gun into a knife fight. He could practically walk sideways through the whole place.

Once enemies were no longer an obstacle, what was there to say? He could take whatever he wanted from the entire map.

So Zhang Yang had completed the 500-million mission around Level 4 and unlocked the next Season Mission.

"[Action Plan 2: Breaking Obstacles]"

"Mission Brief: Intelligence indicates that various factions are sending personnel into the areas of operation. Find them and eliminate them."

"※ Kill a total of 999 enemy Soul Masters during any operation. (0/999)"

"Operation Reward: Current-Level 3×3 Secure Container Trial Card ×1"

With the M14 in hand, the second mission naturally posed no challenge for Zhang Yang, either.

As for the Season Missions after that, they no longer had to be completed in sequence. Instead, three parallel missions would unlock at once, and Zhang Yang could accept and complete them together.

"[Action Plan 3: Letter of Allegiance 1]"

"Mission Brief: Intelligence indicates that the Upper Three Sects have long harbored disloyal intentions toward Spirit Hall. You can seize this opportunity to offer Spirit Hall a letter of allegiance."

"This time, your target is the Clear Sky Sect."

"※ Kill a total of 81 Soul Masters whose Martial Soul is the Clear Sky Hammer during any operation. (0/81)"

"Operation Reward: Current-Level 3×3 Secure Container Trial Card ×1"

"[Action Plan 4: Letter of Allegiance 2]"

"Mission Brief: Intelligence indicates that the Upper Three Sects have long harbored disloyal intentions toward Spirit Hall. You can seize this opportunity to offer Spirit Hall a letter of allegiance."

"This time, your target is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"※ Kill a total of 81 Soul Masters whose Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda during any operation. (0/81)"

"Operation Reward: Current-Level 3×3 Secure Container Trial Card ×1"

"[Action Plan 5: Letter of Allegiance 3]"

"Mission Brief: Intelligence indicates that the Upper Three Sects have long harbored disloyal intentions toward Spirit Hall. You can seize this opportunity to offer Spirit Hall a letter of allegiance."

"This time, your target is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect."

"※ Kill a total of 81 Soul Masters whose Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon during any operation. (0/81)"

"Operation Reward: Current-Level 3×3 Secure Container Trial Card ×1"

Zhang Yang frowned subconsciously when he saw these missions.

So far, after all these rounds, he hadn't encountered a single Soul Master from the Upper Three Sects.

He hadn't even met one, let alone killed one.

Still, he figured the system wouldn't assign him an impossible mission, so he wasn't especially worried.

More important than that, there was something else he had to do after this extraction.

Department - Military Supplies Department - R&D Department. The interface appeared, and Zhang Yang selected one of the options.

The details appeared on the right side of the interface.

"Red, Heding City Academy Map"

"Intelligence Data"

"The complete map of Heding City Junior Soul Master Academy, redrawn using four maps. Redeeming this item unlocks 'Heding City Academy' in Confidential Mode."

"Items to Redeem:"

"Gold, Heding City Academy Map-1 (1/1)" "Gold, Heding City Academy Map-2 (1/1)" "Gold, Heding City Academy Map-3 (1/1)" "Red, Heding City Academy Map-4 (1/1)"

"Redeem"

Without a second thought, Zhang Yang selected Redeem.

The next moment, the system interface appeared.

"Redemption successful."

"Collection Room - Atlas unlocked"

"Map 'Heding City Academy' Confidential Mode unlocked."

At last, Zhang Yang was satisfied.

He had found the "Heding City Academy Map-1" collectible the very first time he entered the map. Finding Maps 2 and 3 had also been effortless.

Only "Heding City Academy Map-4" had eluded him until today, when he finally found it in the Dean's Office in the Administration Building.

Thankfully, hard work had paid off. He had found Map-4 and unlocked Confidential Mode.

Zhang Yang immediately selected Confidential Mode for "Heding City Academy" on the map selection screen, and a background voice sounded.

"The academy has reopened, and the surrounding commercial district has come back to life. You'll face more powerful enemies and a more complex battlefield."

Zhang Yang understood. So that was what made it confidential.

That was what Zhang Yang thought.

He looked at the conditions listed below.

"Operation Difficulty: Hard"

"Entry Value: 112500"

"Recommended Level: 5–11"

"Operation Time Limit: 25 minutes (outside the match), 25 minutes (in the match)"

"Matchmaking Mode: Solo / Squad (Unavailable)"

Seeing "Recommended Level," Zhang Yang studied it carefully. "Recommended Level: 5–11. The enemies are stronger now. What about the drop rate?"

Then Zhang Yang reconsidered. "I can think myself in circles, but it's all guesswork until I go in. One run in Confidential Mode and I'll know everything."

He did as he said. Zhang Yang went straight to the loadout screen and assembled a kit worth around 112,500.

Helmet: White, Boonie Hat (Damaged), value 1,593.

Armor: Green, TG Tactical Bulletproof Vest (Nearly New), value 9,298.

Chest Rig: Purple, Assault Tactical Vest, value 24,940.

Backpack: Blue, GA Field Backpack, value 25,500.

Secure Container: Gold, Pair of Silver, value 52,113.

Loadout value: 113,444, exceeding the limit by 944.

Zhang Yang wasn't very satisfied with that figure. After searching around, he swapped the armor for "Green, HT Tactical Vest (Brand New), value 9,121," saving another 177.

Only then did Zhang Yang nod with satisfaction.

It was worth noting that different types of secure containers counted for different amounts toward the loadout value.

The "Pair of Silver" secure container, which dropped on death, was included in the loadout value.

But the timed secure containers obtained from the "Current-Level 3×3 Secure Container Trial Card" reward for the 3×3 missions didn't count toward the loadout value.

After finishing his loadout, Zhang Yang brought two health syringes, two Soul Power syringes, a bandage, and a bottle of painkillers.

Since Confidential Mode might involve intense combat, he also brought an armor repair kit.

Green-grade armor had the effect "provides good protection against Soul Power impacts from white Soul Power," but it could still be damaged.

All right, his consumables were ready, too.

"Go!"

"Entering match..."

GTI Commander: "Confidential Academy is fraught with danger. Please proceed with caution."

Five minutes later.

"Evacuation failed."

Zhang Yang opened his eyes and slammed a fist against his thigh. "Fuck, that damn four-ring boss."

The map was for levels 5–11, yet the boss was level 43?

When the boss unleashed his Martial Soul, the two yellow and two purple Soul Rings left Zhang Yang completely dumbfounded.

Though Zhang Yang had attacked first and fought for his life, the boss had still taken him out, suffering only minor injuries.

At level 5, he was still far too weak to take on a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

Why design a boss you had no chance of beating and put it on the map?

Damn system, are you sure you aren't just matching people at random?

GTI Commander: I said the Confidential Academy was full of danger. What are you, Duolong?

After swearing and venting his anger, Zhang Yang gradually calmed down.

Although he had failed to evacuate that round and lost all his gear in the match, along with the nine-slot secure container, Zhang Yang had still gained something.

"Red, Luxury Mechanical Watch"

"Value: 212469"

"Craftsmanship Collectible"

"0.16KG, 1*1 slots"

"A luxury mechanical watch with diamonds set in its face. Its 18-karat gold body showcased its owner's exceptional taste and elegant bearing, making an impression before a word was spoken at social gatherings."

"Red Collectible Special Effect: Disrupts the synchronization of time flow, independently extending the activity time in city maps."

This was the valuable item Zhang Yang had grabbed from the sink when the boss cornered him in the restroom.

It could not only extend the time in a match, but was also a required item for the [Collector] quest.

[Collector] progress +1.